1284 Communications Managing Director George Oliver will be the guest speaker at the next AI+ Digital Innovation networking event.

The theme for the event - taking place at Institute in Loughborough on Thursday 27 November - is ‘Getting funded: How we won Innovate UK support after AI+’. 

The quarterly social is an opportunity for the Leicestershire digital innovation community to gather in an informal setting.

George will talk through how 1284 went on to develop an application for Innovate UK funding after the team completed Cohort 1 of AI+ in Summer 2024. He will be joined by 1284 Associate James Ferraby, co-founder of Digital Planning, which is now building 1284’s platform.

During the event, attendees will hear about:

• Making space to formulate an idea
• Testing the market with local grant support
• Building up a project delivery network
• Completing the application pack
• Securing an Innovate UK grant
• Tapping into Innovate UK Business Growth advice.

George said: “Our experience with AI+ helped us make space to develop our product idea and map out the right network to develop it."

“Innovate UK support enabled us to take our idea from concept to delivery and we’re now going into development of a platform to create practical solutions for complex comms challenges.

“Thanks to Steve and Guy for inviting us back to AI+ to share our experience and explain not just how we got here, but how other businesses can unlock new opportunities and growth by taking part in the AI+ programme.”

You can reserve tickets for the event here

Institute’s 12-week AI+ course, which is run in conjunction with Loughborough College with funding from Innovate UK, is specifically tailored to SMEs based in the East Midlands, and is funded to March 2026. 

It is designed to provide businesses with the knowledge and skills necessary to harness digital tools and leverage AI to streamline and revolutionise your business.